{"id":3169,"date":"2025-11-19T11:49:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T11:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=3169"},"modified":"2025-11-19T12:46:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T12:46:05","slug":"current-affairs-19th-november-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2025\/11\/19\/current-affairs-19th-november-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 19th November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. SC recalls verdict rejecting green clearances<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

GS PAPER II-INDIAN POLITY<\/p>\n

CONTEXT: <\/strong>The Supreme Court, in a 2:1 verdict, overturned its own May 16, 2025 judgment that had prohibited retrospective (ex-post facto) environmental clearances. The majority cited severe economic fallout from the earlier ruling, whereas the dissenting judge warned that allowing such clearances seriously undermines environmental protection and the rule of law.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Relevant Constitutional and Statutory Provisions<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Right to a clean environment<\/strong>: Article 21 of the Constitution protects the right to life, which includes the right to a pollution-free environment.<\/li>\n
  • Fundamental duty<\/strong>: Article 51A(g) imposes a duty on every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment.<\/li>\n
  • Key legislation<\/strong>: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provides the statutory framework to implement these constitutional guarantees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Can the Supreme Court Overturn Its Own Precedents?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • The Supreme Court possesses the authority to review and overrule its earlier decisions, but has repeatedly held that such power must be exercised sparingly and only for compelling reasons.<\/li>\n
    • A settled principle of judicial discipline: A Bench cannot overrule a decision rendered by a coordinate or larger Bench.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \u00a0<\/strong>Judicial Duty to Safeguard the Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n

      The Supreme Court has consistently held that constitutional courts are duty-bound to protect citizens\u2019 environmental rights. Key landmark rulings include:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • M.C. Mehta series \u2192 introduced the principle of absolute liability for environmental harm.<\/li>\n
      • T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad \u2192 expanded the definition of \u201cforest\u201d and strengthened forest protection.<\/li>\n
      • 2024 Climate Change judgment \u2192 explicitly recognized the fundamental \u201cright against the adverse effects of climate change\u201d. Core principle: Economic development cannot trump environmental protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong>Majority Judgment (CJI B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran)<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Primary concern: Enforcing the May 16 ruling would cause \u201cdevastating\u201d economic consequences and render investments worth thousands of crores wasteful.<\/li>\n
        • Balancing approach: Prioritized larger public interest and practical realities of ongoing projects over strict adherence to procedural environmental norms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong>Dissenting Opinion (Justice Ujjal Bhuyan)<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Delivered a detailed 97-page dissent.<\/li>\n
          • Core argument: Permitting retrospective clearances violates foundational principles of environmental jurisprudence, dilutes accountability, and sets a dangerous precedent for future violations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            \u00a0<\/strong>Broader Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n

            The recall judgment sharply illustrates the ongoing conflict between rapid economic development and rigorous environmental governance. While the majority adopted a pragmatic, economy-first stance, the powerful dissent underscores the long-term risks of weakening regulatory compliance and environmental accountability. This split verdict is likely to influence future litigation on project clearances and sustainable development policy.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            2. UNESCO new guidelines for use of neurotechnology<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

            GS paper III-Science and technology<\/p>\n

            CONTEXT: <\/strong>UNESCO has issued the world\u2019s first global normative framework on the ethics of neurotechnology in November 2025, marking a historic advance in regulating brain data and mental privacy amid rapid technological expansion and ethical concerns.<\/p>\n

            \u00a0<\/strong>What is Neurotechnology?<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Devices and procedures that access, assess, or interact with neural systems, including the brain.<\/li>\n
            • Neurodata refers to sensitive brain-derived data revealing intentions, emotions, or mental states.<\/li>\n
            • While neurotechnology benefits medical applications such as paralysis recovery, it also poses risks of misuse in marketing, political persuasion, employment screening, and behaviour profiling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              \u00a0<\/strong>Why the Rapid Growth?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              • Investments surged to $8.6 billion by 2023, led by private sector innovators like Elon Musk\u2019s Neuralink and the US BRAIN Initiative.<\/li>\n
              • Medical advances in mental health, chronic illness, and rehabilitation fuel demand.<\/li>\n
              • Commercial sectors explore neurodata for insurance, recruitment, and targeted messaging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                \u00a0<\/strong>Key Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Threats to mental privacy and freedom of thought, with insufficient existing laws.<\/li>\n
                • Potential political influence and voter manipulation using brain data.<\/li>\n
                • Employment screening misuses assessing stress and hidden traits.<\/li>\n
                • Risk of discrimination, loss of autonomy, and manipulation in society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  \u00a0<\/strong>UNESCO\u2019s Ethical Framework Proposals<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Centers human rights: mental privacy, cognitive liberty, dignity.<\/li>\n
                  • Balances innovation with responsibility, inclusion, and sustainability.<\/li>\n
                  • Defines scope of neurotechnology and neurodata protection.<\/li>\n
                  • Provides ethical principles and special protections for vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n
                  • Encourages open science and equitable intellectual property practices.<\/li>\n
                  • Calls for governance reforms across health, education, labour, and disaster management sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    \u00a0<\/strong>Implications for Governance and Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • Urges global standards to protect neural data and mental integrity.<\/li>\n
                    • Advocates regulation of AI and neurotechnology convergence to prevent manipulation.<\/li>\n
                    • Requires new licensing norms to avoid brain data monopolization.<\/li>\n
                    • Promotes public participation and ethical alignment of research and corporate practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      UNESCO\u2019s landmark ethical framework seeks to ensure neurotechnology serves human empowerment without compromising rights or freedoms. For countries including India, the challenge lies in integrating these norms into national laws for safe, inclusive, and responsible neuro-innovation.<\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      3. Unpacking the global ‘happiness’ rankings<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

                      GS Paper -II:<\/strong> International Relations, Issue<\/strong>: World Happiness Report<\/p>\n

                      Context:<\/strong> The World Happiness Report 2025<\/strong> has once again sparked debate by placing Finland at the top for the eighth consecutive year, while India finds itself at 118.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • This raises questions, especially when Pakistan, facing economic and political challenges, ranks higher than India, a rapidly growing economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        \u00a0<\/strong>The Mirage of Metrics<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        The report primarily relies on the Gallup World Poll’s Cantril Ladder, where individuals rate their lives on a scale of 0 to 10. This is then correlated with six key variables:<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • GDP per capita:<\/strong> The economic output per person.<\/li>\n
                        • \"\"<\/strong>Social support:<\/strong> The feeling of having someone to rely on in times of need.<\/li>\n
                        • Life expectancy:<\/strong> The average number of years a person is expected to live.<\/li>\n
                        • Freedom:<\/strong> The perceived ability to make life choices.<\/li>\n
                        • Generosity:<\/strong> The willingness to donate to charity.<\/li>\n
                        • Corruption perception:<\/strong> The perceived level of corruption in government and business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          \u00a0<\/strong>However, these perceptions can be subjective and influenced by various factors:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • Low Expectations:<\/strong> Societies with lower expectations may report higher happiness levels because people adapt to their circumstances.<\/li>\n
                          • Rising Aspirations:<\/strong> In democracies like India, rising aspirations and media scrutiny can lead to lower perceived satisfaction, even with improvements in well-being.<\/li>\n
                          • Higher Expectations:<\/strong> Dissatisfaction can reflect higher expectations for governance and living standards, rather than actual misery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Happiness is not a destination but a pursuit. India’s restlessness, debates, innovations, and demands for better lives may be a sign of well-being. Less satisfaction does not necessarily mean unhappiness; it can signal ambition.<\/p>\n

                             <\/p>\n

                            4. Culmination Ceremony of 75th Anniversary of NSS<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

                            Context: <\/strong>The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) marked the\u00a075th Anniversary of the National Sample Survey (NSS)<\/strong>\u00a0along with\u00a0World Statistics Day<\/strong>\u00a0celebrations on\u00a018 November 2025<\/strong>, highlighting the institution\u2019s contribution to India\u2019s evidence-based policymaking over seven decades.<\/p>\n

                            \u00a0<\/strong>Evolution of the National Sample Survey (NSS)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Establishment:<\/strong>\u00a0Initiated in\u00a01950<\/strong>\u00a0to bridge gaps in national income statistics.<\/li>\n
                            • Expansion:<\/strong>\u00a0Evolved into the\u00a0largest multi-subject socio-economic survey system<\/strong>\u00a0in India, covering diverse aspects of household welfare and economic activity.<\/li>\n
                            • Institutional Home:<\/strong>\u00a0Initially conducted by the\u00a0National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)<\/strong>\u00a0established in\u00a01970<\/strong>, which has now been merged into the\u00a0National Statistical Office (NSO)<\/strong>\u00a0under\u00a0MoSPI<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              \u00a0<\/strong>Institutional Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • Survey Design and Research Division (SDRD)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Kolkata: Responsible for survey design and methodology.<\/li>\n
                              • Field Operations Division (FOD)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Delhi\/Faridabad: Carries out field data collection.<\/li>\n
                              • Data Processing Division (DPD)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Kolkata: Handles data processing and validation.<\/li>\n
                              • Survey Coordination Division (SCD)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 New Delhi: Oversees administrative coordination and publication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                \u00a0<\/strong>Survey Methodology and Coverage<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • Round Structure:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                    \n
                                  • Thick rounds:<\/strong>Conducted every five years, covering approximately 1.2 lakh households on broad themes.<\/li>\n
                                  • Thin rounds:<\/strong>Focus on specialized or emerging subject areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                      \n
                                    • Geographical Reach:<\/strong>\u00a0From\u00a01,833 villages (1950\u201351)<\/strong>\u00a0to over\u00a014,000 rural villages and urban blocks<\/strong>\u00a0in recent rounds.<\/li>\n
                                    • Scope and Diversity:<\/strong>\u00a0Over\u00a050 socio-economic themes<\/strong>\u00a0including consumption, employment, health, education, migration, housing, and agriculture.<\/li>\n
                                    • Statistical Representativeness:<\/strong>\u00a0Generates\u00a0national and state-level<\/strong>\u00a0estimates but lacks\u00a0district-level<\/strong>\u00a0granularity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      \u00a0<\/strong>Major Surveys Conducted under NSS\/NSO<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                      • Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):<\/strong>\u00a0Since 2017; key database for employment and labour market trends.<\/li>\n
                                      • Annual Survey of Industries (ASI):<\/strong>\u00a0Monitors the performance of the organized manufacturing sector\u2014employment, output, and productivity.<\/li>\n
                                      • Price Surveys:<\/strong>\u00a0Produce\u00a0CPI (Rural\/Urban)<\/strong>,\u00a0CPI for Agricultural and Rural Labourers<\/strong>, and inputs for\u00a0WPI<\/strong>, forming the basis for inflation analysis.<\/li>\n
                                      • Urban Frame Survey (2022\u201327):<\/strong>\u00a0Updates the urban sampling frame for all socio-economic surveys.<\/li>\n
                                      • Agricultural and Crop Surveys:<\/strong>\u00a0Estimate crop yields and improve state-level agricultural statistics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        \u00a0<\/strong>Significance and Policy Relevance<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                          \n
                                        • Policy Foundation:<\/strong>\u00a0Supports evidence-based policymaking in\u00a0MGNREGA<\/strong>,\u00a0PDS<\/strong>,\u00a0Ayushman Bharat<\/strong>, rural welfare, and labour reforms.<\/li>\n
                                        • Macroeconomic Role:<\/strong>\u00a0Feeds into\u00a0GDP estimation<\/strong>,\u00a0poverty measurement<\/strong>,\u00a0consumption and inflation analysis<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                        • Long-Term Research Value:<\/strong>\u00a0Offers the most comprehensive and consistent\u00a0household-level longitudinal dataset<\/strong>, enabling the study of structural and social changes over decades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                          \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                          5. Japan’s Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Twice Midnight, Shoots Ash Nearly 4.5 km High<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                          GS paper I: Geography <\/strong><\/p>\n

                                          Context: <\/strong>Japan\u2019s Sakurajima volcano erupted violently on 16 November 2025, sending ash plumes up to 4.4 kilometers into the atmosphere. This marked its most intense eruption in nearly 13 months, leading to ashfall warnings and flight cancellations in surrounding prefectures.\"\"<\/p>\n

                                          About Sakurajima Volcano<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                            \n
                                          • Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Situated in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, on the southern rim of the Aira caldera within Kagoshima Bay.<\/li>\n
                                          • Geological Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Formed as a post-caldera cone about 13,000 years ago after the Aira caldera\u2019s formation 22,000\u201329,000 years ago.<\/li>\n
                                          • Volcano Type:<\/strong>\u00a0A classic stratovolcano built from alternating layers of lava and ash; main vents are Minamidake crater and Showa flank crater.<\/li>\n
                                          • Physical Characteristics:<\/strong>\u00a0Height of 1,117 m and about 50 km in circumference; originally an island linked by lava flows to the Osumi Peninsula in 1914.<\/li>\n
                                          • Eruption Style:<\/strong>\u00a0Mostly Strombolian eruptions producing ash, volcanic bombs, and lapilli; historically capable of large Plinian eruptions.<\/li>\n
                                          • Historical Activity:<\/strong>\u00a0Continuous activity since 963 AD, with major eruptions in 1471\u201376, 1779\u201382, and the catastrophic 1914 eruption.<\/li>\n
                                          • Risk:<\/strong>\u00a0One of Japan\u2019s most dangerous volcanoes due to high activity, complex magma system linked to the caldera, and proximity to populated areas.\"\"<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                            \u00a0<\/strong>Unique Features<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            • Near-Continuous Activity:<\/strong>\u00a0Erupts hundreds of times annually, ranking among the world\u2019s most persistently active volcanoes.<\/li>\n
                                            • Caldera System:<\/strong>\u00a0Its position on the Aira caldera means a complex and deep magma plumbing system fuels eruptions.<\/li>\n
                                            • Landform Change:<\/strong>\u00a0The 1914 eruption converted Sakurajima from an island to a peninsula, an unusual event in volcanology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                              \u00a0<\/strong>Recent Eruption Details (November 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                \n
                                              • Eruption plumes up to 4.4 km height, first time in 13 months reaching this altitude.<\/li>\n
                                              • Volcanic rocks hurled up to 1.2 km from the crater.<\/li>\n
                                              • Multiple eruptions occurred, mainly from the Minamidake crater.<\/li>\n
                                              • Alert level maintained at 3\/5 by the Japan Meteorological Agency; access restrictions near the crater.<\/li>\n
                                              • Caused ashfall warnings and flight cancellations in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki prefectures.<\/li>\n
                                              • No injuries or pyroclastic flows reported but ongoing volcanic activity remains a hazard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                 <\/p>\n

                                                6. Sixteenth Finance Commission submits its report for 2026-31 to President Murmu<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                                GS PAPER II-Indian polity<\/p>\n

                                                Context: <\/strong>The Sixteenth Finance Commission (16th FC), chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, formally submitted its report to the President of India on 17 November 2025. The report, which will be tabled in Parliament under Article 281, is pivotal for guiding India\u2019s fiscal federal structure and resource distribution for the five-year period starting 1 April 2026.\"\"<\/p>\n

                                                \u00a0<\/strong>About the Finance Commission<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                  \n
                                                • Constitutional Basis:<\/strong>\u00a0Established under Article 280 of the Constitution to define financial relations between the Union and States.<\/li>\n
                                                • Appointment:<\/strong>\u00a0Constituted every five years or earlier by the President.<\/li>\n
                                                • Composition:<\/strong>\u00a0A Chairperson and four members, all appointed by the President, drawn from fields such as public affairs, judiciary, government finance, financial administration, and economics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                  \u00a0<\/strong>Roles and Functions<\/strong><\/p>\n